Dirigible headlight



- mvENToR S SP. .Eosir ATTORNEY ssw P FOSTER DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Filed: sent. 21, 1,926

June- 21, 1927.l

Patented .lune 21, 1927.

naiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.4

' SAMUEL 1 i lignt wit t h the which is c son 'with mobile.

PENN Eos'rER, or CHATTANOOGA,

LYNN, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT.

f invention relates generally tus` for automobiles,

and morey to an auxiliary headlamp or which can be used in conjunction main stationary headlights and oimocted with the steering mechathe steering wheels The invention consists in the tions,

Aconstruction in described and claimed. y

The object `of the invention is the provision of n'iechanism for a spot lig described ported below the level headlight the spotlight will rectly in front of j! i.

oi the automobile,

is moving a corner.

a novel mounting and so that the spot light w illuminate the associated in a straight course or swing in unithe autocombinas and arrangements hereoperating ht of ,the Acharacter ill be sup-v of theassociated main and/so thatl the rays of light fromr the'roadway difront wheel y both when the automobile is turning il further object of the invention is the of a spot light supporting and provision operating for the vadjustment o mechanism and-aft and which also permits the spot therefrom A still further object of the invention is the provision of a spot light supporting and operating to vai-y ment of Vtier rod o light to adjust the rays vertically.

which aords facilities f the spot light foretilting of of light mechanism which can be ad]usted l' swinging movetwill be effected ement o f lthe f the steering mechanism with which the spot light supporting ating mechanism is l still the provis operating function with re and witho connected.

and operfurther object of the invention is ion of a spot light supporting and mechanism which is adapted to latively little noise, if any,

ut play between adjacent relatively moving parts thereof.

' @ther objects and advantages v'eiition will be apparent from the description, considered in conjun the accom Figure l is a front panying drawings, in w of thev infollowing,

ction with hich :-u

view of an automobile ecpiipped with a pair of spot lights and spot light supporting an embodying the invention,

` Figure is a perspective view d operating mechanisms of one of Sera'l No. 136,836.

ating mechanism,

Figure 3 is a' vvertical section throughthe mounting for the standard of one of the spot lights,

Figure taryl section substantially of Figui-e2, and

Figure 5 is a section substantially along the line'- of Figure 2.

In Figure 1 I show an automobile 1, having a pair of main headlights 2. which are carried by standards 3. The standards 3 are lixedly supported on the automobile .1 in any suitable known manner so thatV the main headlights. 2 will be supported slightly in wardly of the' front fenders. 4.

In carrying out the invention, I provide an auxiliary head light or spot light 5 for one or each of theheadlights 2'.. The spot light 5 has a tubular extension 6 attherear 4 is arelatively enlarged fragmenalong the line 4-4 of its casing from' `which an ear 7 depends. l

isthreadedly engaged byv al nut 14 and suitable spacing members, which may be loch washers 15, are provided on the bolt 9 between the ears 7 and the adjacentv 'ear 10 so that the ears 7 will be firmly clamped in place between the ears 10 when the nut 14 has been tightened. 1

The supporting structure for the spotlight alsoL includes a housing having a substantially cylindrical body 16 that is integral with the horizontal tubular forward end portion of a The'housing body supporting member 17.

16 is open at its opposite sides and has verg tically alined bea-rings 18 and 19,` respectively, in its top and bottom portions in which the lower end portion of the standard 12 is journaled.`

IA bevel gear 2O end portion of the standard 12 within the housing body 16 and is in inesh with a bevel gear 21 that is secured to an actuating shaft 22. The gear 21 is disposed in the housing body 16 with its axis in a plane higher than t-he gear 2O and the actuating rod 22 if TENNESSEE, AssIGNoR To ROBERT c.

is secured to the lower in its lower edge for engaging with Y journaled in and extendsthrough the tubular support 17 An expansion'spring 23 is mounted on the standard 12 between the bearing 1 8 and the lochv nut 13 and urges the' standard 12'u'pvvardly so that't with the gear 2l.. The housing body. 16 is closed at its sides by caps 24 vvliiclia'ie'held in place removably by'aytie bolt. 25 anda membersof a U-bolt'30 which embraces the tubular supportingr er 4 ofthe automobile. lThe nut '26, the middle portion of the tie bolt 25 .being bentto afford yclearance for the adjacent portionof the standard 12.

The tubular support 17 is adjustably'supported'on a bracket 27 which has openings 28 in its upper end portion adapted for enHV gagement withv bolts 29 Which are customarily providedy on' the automobile Wit-h Which the invention is used, in conjunctionwiththe'xsupporting means for the associated main headlight', the bracket 27 being;r thereby connected rigidly With a kfront fendlower; end p0rtion'ofA the bracket 27 has vertically spaced transverse openings for the reception of the membery 17- and it is obvious that the supimrting` member 17 Will be" clamped viirinly to the bracket 27 When the. nuts 31 are tightened on the' end por'- tions of the U-boltf 30 against` the bracket 27', asV shown in Figure- 2'.' When the nuts 31llia-vefbeen loosened, the tubular supportin-gfineinber 1.7` can bev adjusted longitudinally Which Will-shift the associated spot light in adirectionA fore-or-aft of the automobile.

The actuating' vsha-ft 22 is a rock shaft and has a depending' rocher arm 32st its' rearward end. A nut' 33 is threadedly engaiged with the lovrer end portionV of the rocher arin 32 and-has; a laterally extending portion134 formed with a transverse opening` 35 iii which the laterally turned end portion 36" of a ,con'trol'rod 37 is journaled- Preferably, a thrust Washer' 38 is placed on theend36 ofthe control rod 37 betvveenthe m-ain1portion oftlie control rodand the eX# The lateral-1 tending portion 34 of the nut. lyy turned end portion 36 of the control rod is Zheld against pla-y in the opening" 35 by virtue of the action of an expansion'spring 39 tli'at'eiicircles the part 36 ofthe control i'od'betweeii a Washer 40, ,and the adjacent portion-of the nut the* Washer 40 being,l heldjiii place by a cottei" pin 41 and the laterally turned portiont of the'conti'ol arm thus being retained in place in the opening 35. n f

vThe nut 33 can be adjusted vertically on the rocher arm 32' to vary tli'e swii'iging of the spotv light 5 given longitudinal movement of the associated control arm 37.

The se'cond end of the control arm V37V is' formedfto produce on eye 'vl-2 which loosely encircles a stud 43 on a substantially chanae'gear- 20 Will be lrept'continuously in' close meshI that will be effected by a' nel shaped clamping' plate 44. An expansion spring 45, which is located between Washers 46 Vand 47, respectively, on the stud 43v tends to maintain the eye member 42 againstthe` clamping" plate 44'i Aand yield# ingly permits limited universal movement From the foregoing descriptionfoff' device, the operationv various parts of the n thereof may be readily understoodr VSpot lights 5 andthe hereinbefore described supporting' and may be provided lin association Withjboth The spring 45 and the Washers 46V in place onthe stud 43v operating mechanism therefor" connecting or tie rod ,Y

extendingl l of theclanip-` Y the main headlights lof'jthe automobile as.

shown in Figure 1. llie bra'cliet- 27' may vary considerably in shape immate-l rial details according to the'particular construction of Athe automobile that is'eqiiippedwith spot lights embodying' vthe invention. The longitudinal y that will take place when the front .wheels of the' automobile l course will causedroclring.ofthe shaft22 of .each spot lightV i i iiig'qnie'chanisin and that the associated'spot light will be swung about the aXis'o'f its standard 12 ofthe automobile. Thefnut`1`4'at the upper end oftthe staiidai'dffor the spot light can shifting;- ofl thef .tie A rod 50 i are turned fromV astraightA in unisonwiththe fronti Wheels esV supporting and actiiathe loosened to permit tilting` ofthe spotYV l light casing-about ay horizontal axisfto adjust vertically the direction of the"beain that Will be pi'ojected'froin the spot light.

The light emitting' element ofthe spot lightf may be of any suitable cons ructionr and may be connected by wires, Vnot which mayy extend through the tubular poi'- tion-G of 'thespot light case to lany suitable source of electric current supply, as for eX- ample, to the electric current supply means for the main headlights.

Obviously the embodimentin forms other than thatV which is illustrated in Within the scope ot' the appended claims. I claim 1. ln a dirio'ible spotl light arrangementA for a motor vehiclea braeketwattachable to a stationary part of the motor vehicle at shown,

invention is susceptible ofl the accompanying drawings Y and l. ,therefore 'consider as my own allsuchk modifications and adaptations asfailrly yfall A at the fronto'f the lat-ter,

Y for a motor vehicle, a

the front of the latter, a tubular supporting member attached to said bracket and extending in the direction of length of the motor vehicle, a housing body at the forivard end of said tubular supporting memfv ber, said housing body having vertically alined bearings, av standard journaled in said alined bearings and having a portion extending through said housing body, a spot light supported on said standard, an actuating shaft extending through said tubular supporting member into said housing body, meshed gears Within said housing bodyy and secured to the adjacent ends of said standard and said actuating shaft, respectively, and a motion transmitting'connection between the actuating shatt and the tie rod of the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle. i

2. In a dirigible spot light arrangement rtor a motor vehicle, a bracket attachable to a stationary part of the motor vehicle at the front ot the latter, a tubular supporting member attached to said bracket and ex r tending in the direction of length of the motor vehicle, a housing bodyat the forward end of said tubular supporting member, said housing body having vertically alined bearings, a standard journaled in said alined bearings and having a portion extending through said housing body, a spot light supported on said standard, an actuating shaft extending through said tubular supporting member into meshed gears Within said housing body vand secured to the adjacent ends of said standard and said actuating shaft, respectively, a motion transmitting connection between the actuating shaft and the tie rod of the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle, and pring means associated with said standard and acting t0 maintain said gears in close mesh with each other.

3. In a dirigible spot light arrangement bracket attachable the motor vehicle a tubular supporting member attached to said bracket and extending in the direction of length of the motor vehicle, a housing body at the forward end ot said tubular supporting member, said housing body having vertically alined bearto a stationary part of ings, a standard journaled inl said alined bearings and having aV portion extending through said housing body, a spot light supported on said standard, an actuating shaft extending through said tubular supporting member into said housing body, meshed gears within said housing body and secured to the adjacent ends of saidv standard and said actuating shaft, respectively, a motion transmit-ting connection bet-Ween the actuating shaft and the tie rod of the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle, said housing body being open at its side, closures for member attached to y alined bearings,

said housing body,

thel open sides of said housing body, and means for releasably maintaining said closure members in place onfsaid housing body.

4. ln a dirigible spot light arrangement for a motor vehicle, a bracket attachable to a stationary part of the motor vehicle at the tiont otthelatter, a tubular supporting said bracket and extending in the direction o'l length of the motor vehicle, a housing body at thel for# ward end ot said'tubular `supporting member, said housing body having vertically a standard journaled in said alined bearings and having` a portionmextending through said housing body, a, spot light supported on said standard, an actuating shaft kextending through said tubular supporting member into said Ahousing body, meshed gears yWithin said housing body and secured to the adjacent ends ot said stand ard and said actuating shaft, respectively, a motion transmitting connection between the actuating shaft and the tie rod of the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle, said spot light being supported on said standard for swinging adjustment about a horizontal axis extending at right angles with the direction of length of the motor vehicle.

5. In a supplementary headlight arrangement tor motor vehicles, a standard mounted to turn about a vertical axis, an auxiliary headlight supported on said standard,

an actuating lshaft having a motion trans'v mitting connection With said standard, said actuating shaft extending rearwardly from the lower end of saidr standard in a direction parallel to the direction ot' length of the motor vehicle with' which the supplementary headlight element is used, means for rotatably supporting the actuating shaft, said actuating shaft having a down turned rocker arm, a vnut adjustably engaged with said rocker arm, acontrol arm swivelly connected with said nut, a clamp adjustably engageable with the cross tie rod of the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle,

tion transmit-ting mechanism between said vclamp and said control arm.

6. In an operating mechanism for a `dirigible head-light, an actuating shaft mounted to turn about an axis extending parallel with the direction ot length of a motor vehicle on which the headlight operating mechanism is used, a rocker arm carried by said actuat- :ing shaft, a clamp adjustably engageable with the cross tie rod of the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle, and a control arm adjustably connected ,at one end with said rocker arm, and having a flexible motion transmitting connect-ion at its opposite end with said clamp.

, 7 In an operating mechanism for a dirigible head-light, an actuating shaft mounted to turn about an axis extending parallelwith the direction of length of a motor vehicle and a' fixed moiis I Clamping` member,

on whichl the headlight operating mecha'- nism is'use'd, a rocker arm carried by said actuating shaft, al clamp comprising a fastening' means for securing said clamping member on the tie rod of the steering meehanism'o the In'ot'or vehicle, said clamping member having a stud tiljstancling therefrom, av control arm' hav# ing an eye atene end'loosely disposed on said stud, spring'presse'd -lneans tendngto hold said eye vn'enflber against said clamping member, a nut adjustably engaged with said rocker arnna'nd means providing` a pivotal connection between said nutI and the said V4 control arm. p

8;"ln' an operating mechanism or a d1r1` gble head-light, an actuating shaft mounted to turn abou't'an axs'extending parallel With thedirection`ofl length ofy a motor vehicle on' which' the' headlight operatingv `mechanisniisused, a' rocker arm 'carried by said actuating shaft7 a Clamp vcomprising' a elampl'i'g member, fasteningV means for securing said elamping'melnber on the tie Vrod ol the steering` mechanism o1" the: motor vehieleQsad clamping member having` astlid upsta'nding therefrom, a controlI arm having an eye at one end loosely disposed onlsaid stud, spring pressed meanstendingto hold said eye member against saidV Clamping member, a nut adjustably rocker arm, means providing a pivotal conengaged with said neetien between said nut and the said con- Y trol arm',-and'spring means associated with said last anied meansv for preventing play between'. said nut .and ysaid control arm.

salvi-URL PENN'FosTnR. 

